Culture

Who better than a Seattleite to come up with a high-tech coffee lid? Doug Fleming, a native son and avid follower of “third wave” coffee trends, thought it was a shame to ruin high-quality coffee by sipping it through a poorly designed lid. He founded a company called Vaporpath in 2007 and devoted years to developing a better sipping experience. At long last, the Viora Lid (vioralid.com) was born—and launched to acclaim in April at the Specialty Coffee Association of America conference. Manufactured in the U.S.

It is a perfect, sunny gameday Thursday and the weekend is imminent. What could make today better? How about a quick Seahawks history lesson and some old school Seahawks pictures? In honor of our Super Bowl champs returning to CenturyLink Field tonight, I'd say it would be downright fitting.

It's almost as mouthwatering as the kickoff, almost as heartwarming as the national anthem being sung before the first football game of the season, and almost as delicious as that first touchdown. That first glimpse of divine munchables and irresistible comfort foods splayed out on the tailgate party table before the big game—the excitement is just too much for me to contain. 'Tis the season to fill your plate (or two) and eat your heart out—no need to be polite! Opening game day is almost here...do you have your tailgating munchies accounted for?

The Red Bull Soapbox Race, a decidedly zany event held all over the world, came to Seattle last weekend. Around 46,000 spectators lined both sides of Yesler Way in Pioneer Square to watch 36 teams--strapped into homemade, gravity-powered vehicles that looked just as crazy as their drivers are--brave the steepest course in Red Bull Soapbox history.

Aah, mustard. Not just the goopy, yellow stuff your mom used to squirt on your hot dogs. Maille, an award-winning French mustard brand, brings its artisinal mustard (it actually has mustard boutiques in Dijon, France!) and cornichons to Seattle to sample and purchase. Feel fancy yet? Well, not only will you be sampling and composing your own palette of Dijon flavors, but the mustard is served out of a sleek and stylish electrical vehicle (how very Seattle-y).

When a bunch of winemakers travel from their vineyards so close to crush, they must have good reason. For more than five dozen Oregon winemakers traveling to Seattle on September 11, that reason is to spread the Burgundian-grape gospel at Pinot in the City.

Back-to-school time was one of my most favorite times of the year. There were new outfits to show off (tip from junior high me: wear your best outfit the second day, not the first when everyone is distracted with their unfamiliar schedules and locker combos), new pastel color-encased mechanical pencils to use, new books to cover, potential new crops of cute boys to ogle. Sheer glory.